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Civilian Journalism

Molly Noesen
Intro to Mass Communication
04/13/2010
Reading Response #4
Civilian Journalism
Civilian Journalism is a rising issue as the years go by; the more technological advancements are made available for citizens to take reporting into their own hands. Cell phone cameras, cameras, video cameras, the Internet, blogging, etc. It has become a mass chain of taking footage or photos and streaming them all over the Internet. However, there are up’s and down’s to this new type of journalism. Sometimes a reporter cannot be at the scene so it helps to have absolute live footage; on the other hand we worry what is credible and honest. Journalist’s worry that they are going to lose their jobs through this type of journalism and “junk journalism” will take over the news.
Two of the articles show us examples of how this type of journalism can be beneficial, or a good thing. Julie Fanselow wrote, Community Blogging: The New Wave of Journalism, and in the midst of her article we see how civilian journalism has helped in NorthField, New Jersey. Griff Wigley, investigated rumors of high school students abusing the drug heroin. After investigating Wigley came to discover that this was true and posted on his blog called Locally Grown.
“But Wigley says that positive changes happened as a result of the increase publicity. Posts and comments at Locally Grown recount these changes: updated curriculum and more counseling at local high schools, increased local treatment options, and plenty of honest conversation over substance abuse” (Fanselow).
This shows how community blogging can be helpful, but the next article we take a look at shows us how it can spread nationwide. Richard Sambrook writes the article, Citizen Journalism and the BBC. In this article we learn how much civilian journalism took place on July 7th 2005 in London when the terrorist bombings took place on trains and buses. The results of how much footage was taken is such a large amount, that no reporter could have given unless on site during the bombing.
“Within six hours we received more than 1,000 photographs, 20 pieces of amateur video, 4,000 text messages, and 20,000 e-mails. People were participating in our coverage in a way we had never seen before”(Sambrook)
Civilian journalism was at a high point during this event, people were taking the news into their own hands and putting it out on the internet for the world to see. Also with the help of the Digital Storytelling project, people are allowed to manipulate video and voice recordings so they can tell a story in their own way. BBC has noticed the use of Digital Storytelling and has been known to use it a lot more.
With the positive side of Civilian Journalism, come the downfalls. Neimans Reports, Are Reporters Doomed, gives use a glimpse that reporter’s jobs could be in jeopardy and it is a slippery slope if that does happen. One of the main things discussed is the credibility of the information being given out by the means of civilian journalism. “Slow journalism” is decreasing, and “Junk Journalism” is taking the high road through Internet blogging. Junk journalism can be found anywhere; it is streaming all over the web because of civilian journalism.
“You can get junk food on every high street. And you can get junk journalism almost as easily. But just as there is now a Slow Food movement, I should also like to see more Slow Journalism.” (Neiman Reports)
While the lack of credibility from civilian journalism is an apparent issue, and even more striking issue is public humiliation through blogging. The Human Flesh Search Engine, written by Chris O’Brien for Forbes discusses a new phenomenon that is ruining the lives of people in China. There are two examples, and one is about a man named Wang Fei who was cheating on his wife. He was exposed on the Internet through blogging, and in turn his wife committed suicide. He became a target for public humiliation, and to live a life of being the man who made his wife commit suicide.
“The consequences for those on the receiving end often transcend the virtual world and can include loss of employment, public shaming, even imprisonment. Conversely, the most voracious “flesh hunters” are widely seen as the online equivalent of lynch mobs.” (O’Brien)
This is a huge issue of civilian journalism that shows the huge lack of credibility of potential civilian journalists. With this problem seeming to be such an extreme form, it raises another question: Whom can we even trust with civilian journalism if it progresses?
A poll that potentially caught my eye for civilian journalism was, from CBS news declaring that American’s were growing impatient with Obama and the direction of the health care. People claiming that he spent too much time on the health care plan and the increase of economic concerns makes citizens believe we do not have the money to fix health care. I see this, as a possible opportunity for civilian’s to take journalism into their own hands, and take photos of the economy or make videos showing their frustration. Speaking out in such a way could be dangerous in large amounts, especially with credibility on the line. It is a potential situation for people to speak out, and possibly in not such a positive way.